Step-by-step lead pencil



l Jan. 29, 1929.Y

E. D. FELDMAN STEP-BY-STEP LEAD PENCIL Filed Oct. 23. 1922 INIVTOR.dJ/MEM BY Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDWARD D, FELDMAN, OF ALBANY, NEVI' YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PENCIL MECHANISMCORPORATION, A. CORPORATON Gl NEW YORK.

STEP-BY-STEP LEAD PENClL.

Application filed October 23, 1922.

This invention relates to step-bystep lead pencils and in its morespecific aspects to magazine lead pencils.

An object of the invention is to provide a step-by-step lead pencilwhich is simple, sturdy and permanent in construction, which may beVoperated with ease and certainty, and which is economical ofmanufacture and assembly.

Another object is to provide an improved pencil of the general typedisclosed in the copending applications of Alfred I VVoelm, Se rial No.588,688, filed September 16, 1922, and the division thereof, Serial No.180,000, filed March 31, 1927.

Another object is to provide a step-by-step lead pencil of thecontinuous feed type, wherein the lead is gripped and propelledefiiciently by spring-pressed grippers.

Another object is to provide an improved magazine lead pencil of thestep-by-step type.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding` of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which :w

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a magazine pencil constructedin accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, at right angles to the section shownin Fig. 1, through the casing, and part section through the feedingmechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the lead tube of my improved pencil.

F ig. t is a longitudinal section through the sleeve to which arepivoted the lead gripping and pushing jaws of the mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the .feeding mechanism, illustrating amodified form of tension adapted to retard motion of the sleeve SerialNo. 596,309.

the present exempliiication there are provided a pair of tubularmembers, 2, and, 3, which together provide the casing for the pencil.The lower casing member, 2, is tapered at its lower end, 15, so as toprovide a tip portion having a restricted opening, and the upper casingmember, 3, is formed to provide a magazine in which leads may beretained and from which leads may be fed toward the tip. In the presentinstance, the lower end of the upper casing member, 3, is reducedslightly in diameter so as to lit closely but slidably within the upperportion of the lower casing member. At the upper end `of the member, 3,there is provided a cap, 4l. If desired, there may be inserted in theportion, 3, a removable tubular member, 5, which may serve to provide asupplemental magazine portion from which lead may be fed downwardly. Incertain instances, the opening at the bottom of this member may beclosed to permit the member to be used to hold a reserve supply of leadsfrom which the lower magazine portion may be manually refilled, or themember, 5, may be omitted altogether. When leads of a lengthsubstantially greater than vone-half the length of the magazine portionprovided by the magazine portion of the upper casing, 3, are procurable,it is ordinarily preferable to omit the member, 5. Moreover the member,5, may be omitted if the length of the casing member, 7, is reduced soas to provide a shorter pencil.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the pencil may be equipped with an eraser,6, fitted into an eraser socket, 7 which may be inserted in the upperend of themember, 5, if desired.

In the present instance there is provided a central lead guide tube, 10,which is provided with an enlarged opening at its upper end, asillustrated at 11, and with an opening at its lower end, as indicated at12, which is restricted for a portion of the length of the tube so as tocenter the leads as they pass therethrough. Preferably, also thedischarge end is further restricted and is formed with longitudinalslits so as to provide resilient lingers which will grip the leads asthey are forced through. llhe reduced diameter portion, l2, oit theguide tube insures the proper' alignment et an advance lead, 9a, so thatwhen a succeeding lead, 9", is toi-ced downwardly it will press thislead against the top ol the preceding one so as to overcome any tendencyol' the leads to break or to bring about a jamming oi? the pencilmechanism.

In order to permit the gripping and propulsion or.' a lead within theguide tube, the tube may be suitably slotted, there being provided inthe present instance a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slotsthrough which longitudinally movable gripping jaws, 24;, extend.

The tube, l0, has fastened to its top, so as to form a continuationthereof, a cap ineinber, 17, against the under side of which rests theupper end oit the spiral spring, 18. rlf'he member, 17, terms the bottomot the reservoir :tor the leads, and central therein is an openingadapted to pass the leads, 9, the upper end oit said opening beingenlarged so as to forni a crater with inclined sides. rllhe surtace, 19,of the member, ll', beyond the rim et the crater is gradually depressedas the outer edge oft the suritace is approached; the depressions beingpreferably such as will term a slight curve, as illustrated in thedrawings. rl`his 'term ot' top, i. e., depressed beyond the edge of thecrater instead of level, or raised, tends to separate the leads in themagazine and prevent their crowding toward the center when the pencil isheld in a vertical position so as to permit one et the leads in themagazine to drop through the opening in the member, ll', into the tube,l0, when it will be in position to be acted upon by the jaws, 2li. rlheseparating action et this form ot' top adds very greatly to the easewith which a lead `trom the magazine is introduced into the centraltube, lO, ot the feeding mechanisin ot the pencil, and provides torcertainty oi operation.

hastened to the .lower portion et the tube, l0, at a point below theslots, lil, by screw threads or other suitable means, an anchor member,ll, adapted to lit snugly in the lower portion of the casing section, 2.rlhe member lll, is provided with screw threads or other suitable meanswhereby the pointed member, l5, .may be screwed into or otherwiseitastened to the same.

The member, l5, is provided with a shoulder, 16, adapted to contact withthe lower end of the portion, .2, ot the casing. The en-d ol2 theportion, 2, the anchor member, lll, and the pointed.member, l5, are soproportioned that when the member, l5, is fastened into the member, 14,the portion, 2, oit the. casing will be :toi-ced against and hold inintimate contact with the member, lil.

Mounted upon the central tube, l0, and capable oi' a limitedlongitudinal motion thereon, the sleeve, 20, provided with dia:inetrically opposed longitudinal slots flanked by projecting ears 22,22, and between these ears are pivoted, at 3, the double armed levers,2st, 4which are the jaws which grip and actuate the leads.

Mounted upon the sleeve, 20, and capable of a limited longitudinalmotion thereon, is a gripper-operating collar, 26, the upper end o'twhich is in contact with the lower end ot the spring, 18, which isalways partially compressed and tending to :torce said collar downward.The inclined surface, 27, termed on the lower side ot the collar, 26,will thus be forced in under the upper arms ot the double armed leversor jaws, 2l, and tend to torce them away from each other, while thelower ends ot said levers will be forced toward each other until theygrip the lead. rlhe portion of the jaws which contact with the leads arepreferably toothed substantially as illustrated.

The collar, 26, is attached to the lower end ot' the portion, 3, et thecasing by any suitable n'ieans which will provide tor a limited amountot lost motion longitudinally. ln the drawing this connection isillustrated as consisting of pins, 29, working in openings, 28, termedin the portion, 3.

When assembled as illustrated and described, the members, 2, l0, let, l5and 1T, will move in unison and without appreciable lost motion betweenthe parts; the magazine portion of the casing, 3, the collar, 2G, andthe sleeve, 20, with the parts attached thereto, though fastenedtogether do not at all times move in unison.

To obtain the proper sequence in the moveinent of the parts of thefeeding mechanism, it is necessary that the first part ci? the motion ofthe collar, 26, in either direction, shall not be accompanied by amovement in the same direction of the sleeve, 2Q, and the parts attachedthereto. To insure the proper relative movements oit the collar, 26, andsleeve. 20, there aro provided in the moditication exemplified in Fig. 5a split spring. 3G, working against a pin, 35, so as to provide a springtension to retard the initial movement ot the sleeve, 20, in eitherdirection.

My preferred method ot accomplishing the desired ext-ra tension toproduce a retard against the initial movement ot' the sleeve, 20, ineither direction, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. I form on the outersurface oit the central tube, l0, at a point between the ends ot thelongitudinal slots, an annular projection, 3l, and on the inner surfaceoi the sleeve, 20, a. pair of annular grooves, 32, 32, so spaced andpositioned that the projection, 31, on the tube, l0, will be inalignment with one ot said grooves at or very near the end ot the upwardand downward travel of the sleeve. By making the width of the grooves,13, in the tube, 10, somewhat greater' than the thickness of the jaws,24, the resilience of the sides of the tube may in certain instances beutilized t-o produce a spring action to retard the initial movement ofthe sleeve in either direction. This eliminates the necessity forsupplying a spring such as the spring, 3G, illustrated in F ig. 5 of thedrawings.

In order to insure the desired separating movement ot the lower ends ofthe jaws, 24, when the upper ends thereor" are released 'from thewedging action of the inclined surface, 27, on the collar, 2G, l utilizea U-shaped spring, 25, so shaped that the normal tendency thereof is tocause the jaws to separate and move out of engagement with the lead.This form of spring gives a very satisfactory action and is much simplerand less expensive than the springs made use of by Woelm.

The manner in which my improved pencil operates is as follows, referencebeing had to Figs. 1, 2 and i of the drawings:

The portion, 2, of the casing being rmly held, when force is exertedtending to draw the portion, 8, of the casing out of the portion, 2, theiirst part of such a withdrawing` movement will take up the lost motionbetween the pins, 29, in the collar, 26, and the lower edge of theopenings, 28, in portion, 3. As soon as this lost motion is taken up,iurther withdrawal movement of the portion, 3, will carry upward thecollar, 26, and cause further compression of the spring, 18. Thisinitial movement of the collar, 2G, will cause no movement of thesleeve, 20, and the parts attached thereto, but will release the wedgingaction of the surface, 27, against the upper ends of the jaws. 24, andpermit the spring, 25, to withdraw the jaws from contact with the lead.After this has been surely accomplished, the collar, 26, will come intocontact with the collar, 21, on the sleeve, 2O` and the further movementof the portion, 3, will then also force upward the sleeve, 20, until thecollar, 21, comes into contact with the bottom of the portion, 17, whichis designed to act as a limiting stop for the withdrawal movement,unless destructive force is applied.

The force tending to separate longitudinallv the two parts oi thecasing` being withdrawn, the tension of the compressed spring, 18, willreturn the parts to their original relative positions. except for thelost motion between the pins, 29, and the edge oi? the holes, 28. Thislost motion is provided so that the moving parts of the mechanism mayfollow up to ,grip a lead which may be under the standard diameter.

When the separating force is removed, the action of the spring, 18,first forces the inclined surface, 27, et the collar, 26. between theupper ends of the jaws, 24, thus forcing the lower ends thereof intocontact with the lead at a point higher up than the point at which theypreviously moved out of contact therewith; the jaws then otterresistance to the further downward motion oit the collar, 26, and thepressure on the spring, 18, continuing, the retard is overcome and thesleeve, 20, and the parts attached thereto, plus the lead against whichthe jaws are being torce-d by the act-ion ot said spring are earrieddownward until the sleeve, 20, reaches the lower limit ot its poss'bletravel. The movement ot the sleeve and the parts attached thereto willthen cease, but the tension of the spring, working through the collar,26, and double ended levers or jaws, 24k, will continue to exert agripping action against the lead and so hold it lirmly in place.

l claim:

1. .ln a magazine lead pencil, the combination oi' a tubular casing intwo parts one slidable within Vthe other, the upper part of the casingibrming the outer wall ot a magazine adapted to contain a plurality oflead strips, the lower part pointedto provide a discharge opening andhav. mounted centrally therein a slotted guide tube whose upper endforms the bottom to said magazine, a mounting reciprocable on said guidetube, lead-gripping members pivoted in said reciprocable mounting, meansattached to said upper casing part tor causing said gripping members togrip a lent strip in said guide tube, a spring normally causin saidmeans to aetuate said grippers, and a spring tending to release the gripoit said gripping members.

2. In a magazine lead pencil, a space adapted to contain a plurality otstrips ot lead, the bottom wall of said space having a holetherethrough; a crater with inclined sides leading downward toward saidhole, said bottom wall slanting downward and away troni the rin'i oit'said crater.

8. ln a 'l'eding mechanism for a lead pencil, a guide tube adapted toguide a lead into said 'feeding mechanism, a slot in said guide tube,and a projection formed on the outside thereof: a sleeve slidablymounted on said guide tube, and grooves formed on the inside of saidsleeve, the projection on said guide tube adapted to enter one o1 thegrooves in said sleeve when it is brought into alignment therewith.

l. A guide tube for guiding leads from the magazine opt a mechanicalpencil to the delivery point thereof, and consisting ot a tube cisuitable material the upper and major porti i of which has a bore theminimum diameter ot which is considerably greater than that oi" the leadto be guided, and in the walls oi which are longitudinal slots adaptedto pass and ermit recijnocable movement therein ot the gripper-s whichttorm a part 01"' the pencil mechanism; the lower and remaining portionof the tube contracted to and having a substantially uniform innerdiameter butslightly greater than the diameter of the lead to be guided,the lower end ot the tube slotted to term a plurality et .lingers the'tree ends ot which are rolled inward until the opening` l'heretln'oughis slightly smaller than the lead lo be gniided.

' guide tube `tor guiding leads from the magazine et a mechanical pencilto the delivery point thereofN and consisting et a tube oi suitablenniterial the upper and major portion oit' which has a bore the minimumdiameter ott which is considerably greater than the diameter ol the leadto be guided, and in the walls ot which are longitud inal slots adaptedto pass and permit ri-zciprocable movement therein et the grippers whichterm a part ot the pencil mechanisn'i; the lower portion et the tubecontracted and having a substaniially uniform internal diameter for mostot its length and but slightly greater than the diameter of the lead tebe guided; said tube having an annular rib ou the outside thereoiuadapted to enter a slot in the lead gripping and 'feeding mechanism otthe pencil when said mechanism reaches its limit of travel.

ln a step-by-stcp lead pencil, the combination oit' means providing atip at the lower end ot the pencil, a member at the upper end ot thepencil arranged for longitudinal 1novement with respect to said tip, aplurality olf roelingly mounted lead-gripping and -i'eeding jaws, andmeans responsive tothe reciprocation olf said longitudimilly movable member to reciprocate said jaars and to cause the same to 'feed a leadstep-bystep through the pencil.

7. ln a step-by-step lead pencil, the com ination olf upper and lowercasing members and leznl-l'eeding mechanism including` a plurality otroclingly mounted lead-gripping jaws, said upper and lower casingmembers being arranged tor relative longitudinal movement, and said.leadaieeding mechanism being` arranged to cause an operation of Said jian's'tor `feeding the lead step-by-step through the pencil in responseto the relative reciprorntion ot said casing members.

t5. ln a stepbystep inagazine lead pencil, the eoinbiijiation ot acasing meniber, a peritel-ated plate-like meniber secured thereto, atubular member reciprimable with respect to sai d casing member andcooperating With sai d pl ate-like member to provide a lead magazine,and lezul-gril'iping and -iteeding mechanism operable in response to thereciprocation of said tubular member to 'leed a lead step-bystep throughthe pencil..

l). ln a step-by-stta) magazine lead pencil, the combmation et a casingmember, a perlkn'ated plate-like i'neinber secured thereto, a tubularmember reciprocable with respect to said 'af-aug member and cooperatingwith said plate-like membe to provide a lead magazine, a plurality otlongitudinally movable lead-grippin g jaws, and mechanism operable inresponse to the reciprocation of said tubular member to reciprocate saidjaws and to anse the same to grip and release a lead to propel the leadstep-by-step through the pencil.

lll. lu a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the coi'nbii'iation et apair olf telescoping casing members, a reciprocable spring-controlledgripping and Yit'eeding device normally gripping a lead and adapted tobe actuated by the displacement ol a part of said casing in oppositionto the controlling spring, and means whereby excess pressure appliedagainst the lower end ot the lead will cause said lead and said grippingand feeding device to move upward Within said casing and to be returnedto normal position when said excess pressure is removed, said lead-gripping and -eeding device comprising a plurality oln lead-gripping jaws.

ll. lin a pencil mechanism, the combination oil'l an anchor piecearranged to be de tach-ably secured te a pencil. casing, a plate adaptedto serve as the bottom of a lead magazine, means detachably to secureSaid bottom plate to said anchor piece, a reciprocable member, and meansresponsive to the reciprocation ot said reciprocable member to propel alead step-by-step through the pencih l2. t magazine lead pencilcomprising a tubular casing, an anchor piece, means detachably to securesaid anchor piece within said easing, a tubular member reciprocablewithin saidcasing, a bottom plate cooperating *ith said tubular memberto provide a lead magazine, said bottom plate being` detachably securedto said anchor piece, a re ciprocally movable lead-grippii'ig unitbetween said plate and said anchor piece, and

means carried by said inner tube tor opera` ating' said lead-grippingunit.

13. lu a magazine pencil comprising an outer shell and a tubular memberreciprocable within said shell, the combina/bionet an anchor piecesecured in the bottom of said shell, a bottom plate cooperating withsaid tubular member to provide a lead magazine in. the upper end et thepencil, and a member extending downwardly from said bottom plate to saidanchor piece, said anchor piece and said member being formed With means'for detachably securing said plate on said anchor piece, and meansbeneath said plate to propel lead through said anchor piece in responseto the reciprocation of said tubular member.

ln a step-by-step lead pencil, the ecmbination et" a longitudinallymovable mem ber, a plurality ot longitudinally movable lead grippers, aspring-controlled member adapted to cause lead-gripping and -iteedingoperations oi, said grippers in response to tle operation et saidlongitudinally movable member, and means providing a lost mollO tionconnection between said longitudinally movable men'iber and saidspring-controlled member.

l5. ln a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the con'ibination oi" atubular casing in two parts,r one slidable within the other, means toprovide in the upper part ot said casing a magazine space adapted tocont-ain a plurality of leads, means to provide a discharge opening inthe lower end ot the lower part ot the casing, means providing apassageway opening into the bottom ot said magazine whereby a lead willauton'iatieally drop into said passc 'eway whenever the rear end oit thelead therein passes below the entrance thereto, a spring-controlledlead-gripping and -leeding unit reciprocable in said casing intermediatesaid magazine and said discharge opening, the controlling spring ot saidunit resisting longitudinal displacement ot the parts of said casing,and means whereby the longitudinal displacement ot a part ot saidcasing, iirst in opposition to, and then under the urge ot said spring,will impart a reciprocatii'ig movement and lead-releasing and -grippingactions to said mechanism whereby a lead will be ted step-by-stepthrough the pencil.

1G. lin a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the combination oftelescoping upper and lower tubular casing members, means to provide alead magazine in the upper casing member, means to guide a leaddownwardly from said magazine to the lower end of the pencil, areciprocable lead-gripping unit including a plurality ol lead-grippingjaws, normally gripping a lead in transit trom the magazine to the lowerend ot the pencil, and means comprising a spring-controlled memberadapted to cause lead-gripping and -eeding action ot said gripping unitin response to the relative longitudinal displacement ot said casingmembers whereby the lead will be ted step-by-step through the pencil.

i7. ln a step-by-step pencil, means providing a pencil tip, a membermovable longitudinally with respect to said tip, a leadgripping unitincluding a. plurality of grippers, yieldable means tor reciprocatingsaid lead-gripping unit in response to the reciprocation of saidlongitudinally movable member, means to cause said grippers alternatelyto grip and release a lead in the pencil at predetermined points intheir cycle ot' movement tor propelling a. lead step-by-step toward andout of said tip, and resilient means tor momentarily delaying thereciprocation of said grippers.

18. ln a step-by-step lead pencil, the combination of telescoping upperand lower casing members, a plurality ot rockingly mounted grippersconnected with the upper casing member, means normally to maintain saidgripper in gripping engagement with a lead in the pencil, and means tocause said grippers to release the lead, move upwardly, regrip the leadat a higher point, and move downwardly in response to an upward movementot the upper casing member.

i9. In a step-by-step lead pencil, the combination ot a plurality oi'longitudinally movable pivotally mounted lead-grippers, a springconnecting said grippers and tending to move the same out ot' engagementwith a lead in the pencil, means normally overcoming the action et saidspring, and means comprising an exteriorly accessible member toreciprocate said grippers and to render the previously mentioned meansinoperative during at least a portion ot the upward movement of saidgrippers.

20. In a step-by-step lead pencil, the combination of a plurality oflongitudinally movable lead-grippers, a. single spring tending to movesaid grippers out of engagement with a lead in the pencil, meansnormally overcoming the action et said spring, and means comprising aneXteriorly accessible member to reciprocate said grippers and to renderthe previously mentioned means inoperative during at least a portion ofthe upward movement ot said grippers.

2l. In a step-by-step lead pencil,y the combination of a plurality ollead-grippers, a spring-pressed member acting normally to cause saidgrippers to grip a lead for writing purposes, means forming a part ofthe pencil casing ior moving said spring-pressed member against thepressure ot its spring, means to move said grippers out of engagementwith the lead, means to move the grippers upwardly along the lead, andmeans comprising said spring-pressed member to return the grippers togripping position and to feed forward a lead.

22. In a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the combination ot a tubularmember and a pencil tip mounted for relative movement, said tubularmember being adapted to provide a magazine chamber for containing aplurality of leads arranged side-by-side, a lead-guiding tube adapted toguide leads successively :from said magazine to said tip, Asaid tubebeing connected with said tip and eX- tending into said chamber wherebythe relative reciprocation ot the magazine chamber and the tip willagitato the leads in the chamber and facilitate the movement of leadsfrom the chamber to the guide tube.

ln a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the combination of upper andlower tubular members, the upper tubular member being mounted forlongitudinal movement, means including the upper tubular member toprovide a lead magazine, a plurality of longitudinally movable gripperscontained within the lower tubular member and adapted to grip a lead intransit from said magazine to the lower end of the pencil, alongitudinally movable gripper-operating member, and means includingsaid gripper operating member to normally maintain said grippers inengagement with the lead, and, when the gripper operating member isreciprocated in response to the longitudinal movement of said uppertubular member, to impart longitudinal movement of said grippers7 and tocause said grippers to grip a lead when the grippers are in an upwardposition and to release a lead when the grippers are in a downwardposition, whereby said grippers will grip and propel a lead step-by-stepthrough the pencil.

24. in a step-by-step pencil, the combination of a casing member, aplurality et longitudinally movable lead-gripping elements, resilientmeans tending to spread said grippers, longitudinally movable gripperoperating means arranged to normally maintain said grippers ingril'iping engagement with a lead in the pencil and when rcciproeated toimpart longitudinal movement to said grippers and to press said grippersagainst the lead during the major portion oi" the downward movementthereof, a longitudinally movable exterior-ly accessible memberextending above said casing member, and means providing a connectionbetween said actuating member and said gripper-operat-in means.

25. ln a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the combination oi.t acasing member, a longitudinally movable tubular member, means includingsaid tubular member to provide a lead magazine in the upper part ol" thepencil, a plurality of longitudinally movable jaws adapted to grip alead therebetween, a gripper-operating member connected with saidtubular member for imparting longitudinal movement to said jaws, andmeans including said gripper-operating member to cause said megane jawsto grip and propel leads from said magazine step by step through thepencil.

26. In a step-by-step magazine lead pencil, the combination of a casingmember, a longitudinally movable tubular member, means including saidtubular member to provide a lead magazine in the upper part of thepencil, a plurality of longitudinally movable jaws adapted to grip alead therebetween, a gripper-operating member, means providing a springcontrolled lost motion connection between said tubular member and saidgripperoperating member, and means including said gripper-operatingmember to cause said jaws to grip and propel leads from said magazinestep by step through the pencil.

27. In a step-by-step pencil, the combination of a lead-gripping andfeeding unit, means to reciprocate said unit and to cause the same togrip and release a lead, and means for retarding upward and downwardmovements of said gripping unit until releasing or gripping action hasbeen imparted to the unit, said means comprising a biturcated springiixed with respect to the casing and a pin on the gripping means toengage between the iurcations of said spring.

28. ln a step-by-step pencil, the combination oi a lead-gripping andfeeding unit, means to reciprocate said unit and to cause the same togrip and release a lead, and means for retarding upward and downwardmovements oit said gripping unit until releasing or gripping action hasbeen imparted to the unit, said means comprising a pair of springs iixedwith respect to the casing and a pin on thegripping means to engagebetween the springs. y

ln testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

EUWARD D. FELDMAN.

